Friday, March 25, 2016

Have you ever slogged through a dense, dry reportwondering about about the lives and stories behind the statistics?Just two days ago I stumbled across a collectionof Indian Affairs Annual Reports, 1864-1990in Library and Archives Canada.I quickly located the 1961 report that covered the time my father taught in Lansdowne Houseand began skimming through its 66 pages.It's fascinating to see all of the federal government's annual interactions with the First Nations Peoplessummed up in 66 concise pages, complete with statistical tables.Northern Ontario had 54 Indian schools scattered across its wilderness of rock, lake, and muskeg.My father's was one of the 38 single-classroom schools. Table

His school was mentioned in the report in a short phraseas one of three schools constructed in Northern Ontario during the fiscal year ending on March 31, 1961. Education

But nowhere in the report could I find any mentionof the quality of construction completedor whether the schools were actually equippedwith the furniture and supplies needed to function.I can't help laughing as I remember what was notin the brief innocuous words of the government report:My father arriving in Lansdowne Houseand finding the new school without a stick of furniture.After a radio call to the Department of Indian Affairs in Nakina,my father furnished the school temporarilyby borrowing old handmade desks stored in Father Ouimet's atticand carrying them over to his school on the mainland via canoe.He also scrounged card tables and chairs, sawhorses and lumberaround the community to accommodate his Indian children.

That was the beginning of a number of challengesmy father had to overcome at his new Indian schoolincluding shoddy construction, malfunctioning oil stoves,and partial shipments of necessary equipment.

Fortunately people in Lansdowne House pulled together,helping each other out with difficult tasks.

On Monday, December 12, 1960 My father wrote:Dear Sally:I had a very busy weekend. Friday when I came to school, it was very cold, and the ceiling had fallen down again. Mike, Duncan, and I spent the morning putting up the ceiling ~insulating it and sealing the fire door shut.The three of us spent Friday afternoon banking the schoolwith snow to keep it warm.

Saturday morning I hauled four or five loads of wood for our shack,and Saturday afternoon, I spent pumping oil from barrels into the school oil tanks. I pumped 400 gallons, and by the time I was finished,I was nearly frozen.

It was 25 below all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The temperature usually drops to 30 below and lower at night.

Sunday I spent the morning reading, and then about 11:00, Mike came over and asked me to help him take lake water samples.I had dinner at the nursing station, and after dinner we put on moccasins and snowshoes and took off for the lake.We walked five miles and drilled twelve holes in the ice. It took us from 1:00 to 5:00 to do it. We went up one side of the peninsula for about ¾ of a mile and then cut across the peninsula and down the other side. Oh, and we went around the island.

Lansdowne House and the Father's Island, 1935

Credit: Canada. Dept. of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Library and Archives Canada / PA-094992

I had supper at the Father’s and then came back to Mike’s and had a nice hot bath ~ my first bath in a bath tub since I arrived here. Boys but it felt good. I was so tired that Mike asked me to stay the night. I did. I’m quite stiff today.

Tomorrow or Wednesday I have to go out after a Christmas tree for the school.That will involve another three-mile hike on snowshoes.This life sure is different from anything that I have been used to up till now.

I had gained five pounds last week, but I knocked three of them off this weekend. I weigh an even 200 pounds now. Another ten pounds to go, and I will have reached my goal weightwise. However, I have quite a ways to go yet to reach my goal strenghtwise.

I can tell you one thing though. I’m in great shape from the hips down.I never saw my legs so muscled up as they are now.

Continued at Afternoon Recess:Mr. Gowan is in visiting the settlement now. He is in in response to a letter that I mailed to him regarding the schooland the problems I have been having regarding the heating, etc. I did not get a chance to ask him about the forestry shack when he was in my school just now, but I will press him for an answer to this question as soon as I see him after school. I sure as hell …And the rest of the letter is missing!But I found the missing page from a letter written back in September attached to this one.Maybe this letter's missing page will surface somewhere. It is funny to note that in the letter of September 12thwhen my father was grounded in Nakina by bad weather,he was trying to track down Mr. Gowan and learn where he was going to liveonce he finally arrived in Lansdowne House:"I have met and talked with a few more Indians,but I still have not succeeded in seeing Mr. Gowan, the Indian Agent at Nakina.”Now Dad was pressing him for permission to move into the forestry shack,so my mother and we five children could join him.It's fair to say that my father and the Indian Agenthad an up and down relationship.The Department of Indian Affairs did not want employees to rock the boat, and my father was already making waves.Oh the things to come that are missing in that bland report!

2. Duncan MacRae:
Duncan worked for the Department of Transport,
and his duties included running the DOT Weather Station.

3. Father Maurice Ouimet:
The priest at the Catholic Mission in Lansdowne House.
He was a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate,
a missionary religious congregation in the Roman Catholic Church.4. Mr. Gowan: As the chief administrator for the Department of Indian Affairs in Nakina,
the Indian Agent managed the lives of all First Nations people in his jurisdiction
which included the native people in Lansdowne House.

Friday, March 18, 2016

I remember only too well the first time I had to be apart from Terryfor any amount of time.It was the summer of 1993.Terry had to work in Seattle for several months,and I went out with him for the first month. It was great while it lasted,but then the time came when I had to return to teaching in Aurora, Colorado.We said goodbye, and I watched him walk to work from the window in his apartment kitchen.A dreary, chill rain had just stopped,and he dodged puddles on the sidewalk as he hurried off.The lump in my throat was so big, I could barely breathe, and I didn't know my heart could ache so much.I couldn't fathom how we could be apart for six long weeks.So when I read my father's wordsin a letter he wrote at the end of freeze-up,I can begin to understand the loneliness he was feeling.By then, my parents had been separated over twice as long as Terry and I had,and they still faced unknown months apart.

when the first plane in arrived on December 8, 1960.I can imagine my father's delight at the sound of the bush planeapproaching from the south over winter-bound Lake Attawapiskatand his excitement as he collected his letters and packages;but it was a painful momentwhen he set his mail aside and loneliness closed in again. On Thursday, December 8, 1960 My father wrote his mother, Myrtle MacBeath:Dear Mother:The box arrived safely today. Everything was in fine shape. It made me awful lonesome though to get my first Christmas presents. It really brought home with a bang the fact that I am not going to be with my family for Christmas.Gosh, but it is going to be so lonely.

It is a real rip snorter of a night out tonight - 25 below zero with a 30 mph wind in from the northwest.I have not been writing the Lansdowne Letter since freeze-upbecause Uno’s typewriter is on the bum, and mine hasn’t arrived yet. As soon as either mine arrives, or the part for Uno’s arrives, then we will be publishing regular editions again.I have been dreadfully discouraged, disheartened, and homesick lately,and I have not been able to concentrate on doing anything except my joband have been having a hard enough time concentrating on it.

I weigh an even 200 pounds now. Only 10 more pounds to lose to reach 190 which is my goal. Hope I don’t gain too much eating those cookies that you sent up to me.I am so lonely up here. I do so wish that some miracle would happen so that I could get home for Christmas, but I know that’s impossible. I don’t care what happens, I am never going to stay away from my familyfor another Christmas for all the money in the world.

I could have gone out for Christmas to Nipigon with Uno, but it would have cost me about $100.00 all told,and if I spent $100 to go to Nipigon, I think I would spend another $50.00 and come home. Anyway, what am I talking about? It will be a long time before I am able to spend $150.00without worrying about it.

I still have not received my traveling expenses,and they still aren’t paying me my proper salary,but it will all sort itself out before spring.That’s one good thing about working for the government.It may take you considerable time to get all the money coming to you,but eventually you do get it all.(I hope so, for they still own me some from the air force.)I think I am going to have to get a pair of snowshoes.It is no fun tramping through two or three feet of deep snowfor over two miles each day as I tramp back and forth to school.Well, I must sign off now and get some official correspondence done.I was disappointed that there were no stamped envelopes in the box.Perhaps you can send me some soon, eh?Thanks so much for the lovely box. Bye now,Love,DonGive my love to Aunt Maude.Tell her I’ll be writing to her soon.I’ll drop you another line soon.Don

Friday, March 11, 2016

My apologies to my family and friendsfor my unanticipated hiatus from blogging,but I'm back now to pick up the narrative of my family's time in the North.

At that point my father was cut off from the Outsideanxiously waiting out freeze-upin the remote wilderness of Northern Ontariowhile my mother was fighting through loneliness and isolation in rural Nova Scotia.

Unable to communicate with her husband,my mother was alone with five young children.living in her mother's home,and struggling with little money and poor health.My mother persisted,and I often wonder how on Earth she did it.Cheerful and resilient, she kept her worries inside.With Christmas coming in less than three weeks,my mother tried to firm up plans for her mother-in-law's impending visit.What a different time it was!Everything had to be worked out through letters passing back and forthbetween Smith's Cove, Nova Scotiaand Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.Money was as scarce as hen's teeth,so a long distance phone call was only for emergencies.Even stamps were used prudently.

On Thursday, December 8, 1960 my mother wrote to her mother-in-law Myrtle MacBeath:Dear Mother:This is going to be a fast letter for it is late. I haven’t written because Roberta was very sick with the flu. I was just going to get the doctor when I realized that she was finally getting better. It made a lot of extra laundry, blankets, etc., and it is so hard to dry things now.

We have been as warm as bugs in a rug, but now that it has turned cold, I realized I had better warn you to bring warm things for your legs and shoulders. If you could bring a pair of flannelette blankets, I wish you would, for I gave Don most of ours. I can borrow anything I need from Aunt Nan, but I doubt that she would have flannelette sheets. I could get ordinary ones from her, so let me know whether you will have room to bring any or not.Kelsey and Mary Lou are going to Mary Lou’s home for Christmas. I had forgotten when I wrote you. However, Mrs. Robinson or her son will pick you up. Your train arrives here at 11 o’clock.

Mrs. Robinson's son would drive you here and back to Halifax for $10.00 return. He brings another woman with him I believe.However, I told Mrs. Robinson that you might be nervous about driving,and I would worry about you if you came by road. Also there might be a snowstorm. However, if you wish you could come with him. If you did, you would go back with him on a Sunday. I don’t know what time they leave,but I could find out for you if you are interested. He has a nice new car and is about nineteen or twenty. He takes a number of people from the Cove and is a very nice boy.But as I said I would feet safer if you are on the train.I had decided to let you have the room Louise and I are using, and Louise would sleep with Barbie and I with Roy. The way he sleeps, he wouldn’t even know I was there, and it would please him. However I begin to wonder if you would be better downstairs where it is heated,but that would leave another problem. There is only one solid wall away from the windows. Unless there is a wind blowing from the north this wouldn’t bother you. We could move the couch in the dining room for you. I am going to put one there for Christmas to give us more room anyway. Where do you think you would be the most comfortable? Of course we could arrange things differently after you arrive.I can’t think of anything else. I have been trying to get things fixed up for you, but with the children sick, especially the baby, things have gotten beyond me.

However Mrs. Robinson’s daughter is coming in to help meSaturday, and if all goes well, I will be able to get her regularly. There is so much for me to get caught up with, though I hope you won’t mind if things are not as nice as I would like to have them. I made cranberry jelly Wednesday. Tomorrow I will make the puddings, the cake Monday,a quick fruitcake on Tuesday. Stella is making me some nice mince pies,cookies, and doughnuts,so don’t bother to bring any.There doesn’t seem to be anything else that I can think of. There are two places in the dining room that we could put a couchif you would like to be by the heat. It’s below zero tonight,and the first time I have had the furnace on all day. I have been paying about $10 - $15 a month for oil, a lot different from Margarettesville.With love,Sara.So many changes have occurred since then.No more doctors making house calls nor hanging bedding out to dry on the clothesline in the winter.No doubling up and sharing beds.No trace of the Robinson's home just a dash away,only warm memories of childhood fun with their younger son Wayne, my brother, and meall over the woods, the pastures, and the shore. Drivers still take people to and from Halifax,but guaranteed not for $10 round trip;and the newer Trans-Canada Highway is much fasterthan the torturous old road that wound through endless villages and towns in the Annapolis Valley.The Dominion Atlantic Railway train and the Bear River Station are long gone,and the Bear River Railroad Bridge (photo) came down in 2012.My grandfather Jack MacDonald helped build that bridge (photo);it's the reason I'm here.He'd dive off the bridge to retrieve dropped toolsand then get time off to court my grandmother.

Sometimes the most ordinary words in an everyday letterflood me with bittersweet memories,especially of those I love who are gone.Every family has its stories,and I believe those stories are important.Is someone in your family saving yours?I hope so!

Happy March to all the IWSG members making the rounds today!I really appreciate when you visit my blog.On February's IWSG Day I posted about crashing and burning.It was all downhill from there.I flamed out in the following weeks,disappearing completely from the Online World.I hit a wall.Not on the horizon, not approaching,but very closeappeared a big 66!

I knew that I'd be turning 66 in March, no big deal;but then I chanced to read in AARP that people turning 50 could anticipate living until 80.Then it slammed me:66 is more than half way to 80!Down into the depths of depression I spiraled.What on Earth was I thinking?Who was I kidding?Me, write a book?I was practically in my grave!No more happy talk.No more Ms Tickety-Boo.I was in a beat-me-up black place.I wallowed for days,and then I fought my way backin a whirlwind of cleaning, pitching, and organizingthat went on for weeks.I didn't write ~ heck, I didn't think.I went through the motions of daily livingas I turned everything upside down and inside out.And then a few days ago, I leg-pressed my personal bestat the end of some undulating sets of reps.My trainer Julie slipped some extra pounds on the weightswithout my noticing, and Bam!I pressed 315 pounds four times.When she told me, I jumped around the gym fist pumping.She said not many women my size could do that.I said, "You mean age."She said, "No, I mean size; but definitely not your age either."Well damn! I thought. There's life in the Old Girl yet!Goodbye black clouds of despair!Hello sunny skies!I stared down 66.Back to writing again.Back to blogging again.Back to photography again.

Yesterday we flew from Denver, via Salt Lake City, to Honolulu.

Flying past Diamond Head

Honohulu, Hawaii

March 1, 2016

We haven't been here 24 hours,but Terry has already connected with the Diamond Head pickleball players.He played for three hours, and now he's taking a nap.

Someone Wants to Play!

Diamond Head Pickleball Court

Honolulu, Hawaii

Meanwhile I walked for five miles reconnecting with favorite spotsand checking out a fabulous bakery with amazing cream cheese scones.Monday, Wednesday, Friday ...Terry will be pounding the pickball court and napping.I'm going to have lots of time to write!We're happily checked into the Royal Grovefor the next five weeks!

And for that big birthday racing toward me,Terry's taking me to Waikiki's other pink hotel,the Royal Hawaiian, for a birthday sliceof my favorite Pink Haupia Coconut Cakewashed down with ridiculously expensive mai taisat The Original Mai Tai Bar.I'm feeling much better mentally!Happy writing to each of you!